Solar developers keen to tap into opportunities in Scotland

Between the Lines Rosalind Clifford

THE renewable energy industry is re-assessing its development in the face of a challenging new policy environment where support mechanisms are under pressure and subsidies have been reduced.

One could suggest that the industry is unloved and unwanted. However, Bidwells prefers to see it as a sign that the industry is coming of age. And this view is echoed by the public who, in a recent UK government survey, declared record support for renewable technologies. According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s public attitudes tracker, 79 per cent of those members of the public surveyed generally supported renewable energy. In contrast, only 4 per cent were opposed.

Based on this information, positive moves by the new government to further support green energy would be welcomed by the public and the industry which is striving to deliver low carbon energy within constrained policy parameters.

Holyrood’s draft Scottish Energy Strategy says the country must become less dependent on fossil fuels and that a greater proportion of our energy mix will come from electricity, potentially generated from wind, solar, anaerobic digestion, hydro and other technologies. Scotland has benefited from its wind and water resources, but there could be further opportunity in other sectors.

In particular, solar developers, who had concentrated on areas of high irradiation in south-west England, are turning their attention to Scotland as an emerging market. As these areas of England reach their capacity for solar farms, developers are looking to Scotland (especially coastal areas with good irradiation) where they hope fewer existing developments will mean obtaining grid connections will be easier and there will be less opposition to planning applications. Scotland is regarded as a key opportunity to make solar farm developments economic without subsidy, offering landowners a new prospect for diversified income.

To better address this changing environment, Bidwells has reviewed its offering and its energy and renewables team is fully focused on delivering the latest opportunities in renewables, infrastructure and energy projects.